markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .056

[Okay, so waking up today was weird. She thought it was Saturday, but by the state of the house and where things were... it was actually Monday. Sokka was back - woke up in his own bed, and all, but when Katara went to check on Toph to see if she remembered what happened...

Her room was bare. There was nothing left. Toph was gone.

After stumbling to the wall and leaning on it a long moment to get herself together - is it going to hurt like this every time? - it was time to tell the household.

That accomplished, one of them had to let the town know... and Katara volunteered. She opened up her journal to find a mission summons from the Malnosso. She stared at it a long moment - now? When her housemates need her most they're calling for her now? She shut the journal. She needed a moment to process.

Eventually, she'll open up the journal again. Her voice is a little strained, but steady.]

I'm sorry I don't know any other way to say this but... Manliness Classes are going to have to be canceled again. Toph's gone home.

And... [hhhng, announcing this to the village is so weird, but...] Sokka's back. [There, that's better. Starting with him gives her someplace to stand on.] But I'll be leaving on a mission tomorrow, so... I'll see you all in a week or so.

[So after making this post mid-morning, Katara sets about doing what she needs to do. Sirry Crags, huh? She knows how to handle high altitudes and fighting in snow. She'll just... pop into the Item Shop to double check for a few things, and then hopefully bump into someone willing to help her carry groceries home. It looks like she's going to need to do a week's worth of cooking today.]

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...Should it be now?

[Because he's not sure Zuko's going to hear that. He's also not positive that eh can do it right now, but he will for her]

[She closes her eyes and exhales quietly in relief.

She's been wrong about so many people, so many times...

She's just glad that he's willing to own up to it.]

[And then she glances towards Zuko. Every line of his body is radiating barely contained tension and... she's not sure he'd take it, anyway. She wouldn't want it to seem forced, like it was something she was making Masaomi do. Then she knows for sure Zuko wouldn't accept it. If the circumstances were reversed, she wouldn't.

She looks back at Masaomi.]

No, probably not.

[And then she does touch his arm, briefly, and she inclines her head towards the door and smiles a little.] Come on, I'll see you out.

[...Okay, force a smile. He nods, and allows himself to be lead out. Or well, he takes the lead actually, but the point is he does go to the door at her prompting and is going to even put on some shoes then]

[She follows along quietly enough and reaches to open the door once he's done putting on his shoes.]

I'll see you when I get back.

[And she hopes that he tries to make it right before then. But she's not going to say any more about it. It has to come from him, or else it won't mean anything.]

Ah.

Right then, yeah.

[No, that was too pushy. He shakes his head, and now with his self all set up to go he pauses. Does he go in to make an extra move? No, this mood sucks. He nods finally, and turns to leave, waving once his back is turned]

[She watches him go, strangely... hurting. She would have liked to reassure him, or done something to make this better, but...

There was nothing she could do.

She hates that most of all.

After he waves, she watches a moment more... and then shuts the door, locks it, and sighs. Now she has to go deal with Zuko.

Katara walks back in to the kitchen, a touch apprehensively, and waits. She's got a feeling he's got something to say, and he deserves the chance to say it first. In fact, she's impressed that he managed to hold himself together silently this long.]

[Kitchen's clean and Zuko's still wiping the counter down. He glances over his shoulder when she comes back in and there's a million things he wants to say.

Your friends suck.

And I don't like him; never let him back in this house.

But she has a mission come morning and there are more important things than snarling about an insult that really shouldn't have hurt as much as it did. He turns away, not looking at her when he speaks.]

You should be asleep.

[A sigh.] I know.

[And she reaches out to touch his bare arm, turn him around.]

Zuko... [And she'll wait until he turns before she speaks, but she doesn't drop her hand.] What he said was wrong, so I'm not going to try to apologize for it, or make excuses. I don't understand why he'd say something that needlessly cruel, he's not usually like that. So if he does try to make it right, give him a chance, okay?

[Her gaze flickers to look directly at his scar, and she lifts her hand to touch it lightly, her gaze returning to his as she does.]

You're so much more than this. It's part of you, but it doesn't define you.

[She doesn't know how else to say all that's in her heart, a tangle of confusion and protectiveness towards both of them, and affection and - friends. She shakes her head, her lips pressed firmly together, her gaze intent on him.]

I just see Zuko when I look at you.

[He turns to face her because, when all is said and done, he's not mad at her. He's angry, yes, and annoyed and frustrated and she should know better. But it's not her that he's angry with. The last thing he wants to do is give that little ass a chance, but...

Fine.] He gets one chance.

[A sigh. He's glad of that; he really is, but now's not the time. He nods, one corner of his mouth turning up in a tired half-smile.] I know. Now please go get some sleep. If it was me going on a mission, you'd have waterbended me into my room by now.

[She drops her hand.] Thank you.

[And then smiles, sleepy, but smug.] I can't help it that waterbending's a more effective tactic for dealing with stubbornness than firebending.

[So there. XP

But she does shift her weight back as if to go.]

[He snorts at that, less than amused. Yeah, but firebending can kick ass, okay?]

Get some sleep. [Subject dropped. Don't worry about it. He's good.]

I'm going. [Have a small smile, just for you.] Good night, Zuko.

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